I had diabetes for more than 15 years before I ever heard of the CDE certification, and then I only did because my PCP sent me to one after I requested insulin. All she did was teach me how to inject, which I already knew before I got there.
And I have to echo one of Brian’s earlier points. The AADE has made it as difficult as possible to achieve certification and deliver the appropriate services. IMHOP they are marginalizing themselves and will eventually become a largely-bypassed backwater if they don’t mend their ways.
When my son was young and we took him to the endo clinic at the local children’s hospital, we called the RN who was also the CDE the diabetes nurse. She was the nurse who saw him on each visit to help him and educate him about his diabetes and she was a nurse, so diabetes nurse.
After reading everyone’s comments, I think the term “diabetic nurse” is not a regional expression or connected to any health care system. I think it’s simply an ungrammatical slip that some people use.
I didn’t intend for the discussion to morph into one about CDE’s but I found this unintended thread path interesting.
I have an appointment in December with a new-to-me endocrinologist and I noticed online that I’m scheduled to also see a dietitian/CDE. I’m trying to think of a positive discussion topic that could provide benefit as most of the times I’ve met with dietitians in the last several years have been awkward. I eat low-carb high-fat and I know that most dietitians hew the party line low-fat whole grains type of advice. I don’t really want to get into a debate and cause tension, but I suffered with adherence to that philosophy in the past.
Any suggestions for worthwhile topics to discuss with the dietitian/CDE?
The first one was immediately upon my initial diagnosis-- and although I had a quite negative overall experience with her, it was her who convinced the family doctor that was managing the situation that I was a type 1 and needed to start insulin immediately. So I’ll give her that credit where it’s due. Other than that I found her quite condescending and didn’t appreciate being billed for an “expert” on diabetes to tell me things like I should brush my teeth every day.
The second CDE I met with several times is a type 1 herself. She’s also actually a member of this forum now (since I told her about it), but hasn’t identified herself as such so I’m not going to point her out. She was very knowledgeable and knows way more about the actual physiological aspects of the disease than I ever will, and that’s primarily what we talked about. She was also helpful when I was very stressed about making sure the documentation of my tight control was in order for my career, even going well out of her way to ensure some incorrect notations in my medical records were corrected. And also as a long time T1 just had some general good advice and practical tips. We still keep in touch once in awhile and have exchanged book recommendations, tips, etc ever since. A good CDE is worth their weight in gold and can teach you far more about diabetes than an endo will.
I hope yours is a good one.
ETA Re dietary— the first one had a whole spiel with rubber food models and tried to cram the whole party line ADA guidance into our couple sessions… had me arranging fake foods into proper proportions on plates, all that crap
The second one never tried to tell me how to eat (as I was already in control by the time I saw her) but did offer some tips about undercooking certain things to lower their glycemic load— and get this–she read Bernsteins book on my recommendation— and we exchanged notes about it afterward.
No suggestions for worthwhile topics to discuss (not that there aren’t any, it’s just that after reading all your posts since I joined TuD, I find it hard to believe that any dietician/CDE will have anything to offer you in particular that you don’t already know.)
I’d expect the worst: that the dietician/CDE will offer you “the party line low-fat whole grains type of advice.” So my advice is to practice the “nodding dog” maneuver: just nod your head with an idiotic grin on your face and a blank look in your eyes. And escape as soon as possible. Good Luck!
That’s correct. The AADE has specific prerequisites that must be satisfied even to apply, among them certification in one of a list of specific disciplines including but not limited to nursing and nutrition.
